Donald Trump Hammered For Response To Resignation Of Rob Porter

Donald Trump has praised a White House aide accused of domestic violence, saying his resignation is “very sad” and he will have a “great career ahead of him”.

The President added that Rob Porter, who resigned this week after allegations that he abused two former wives, had maintained his innocence, and he wished him well.

“He says he’s innocent. I think you have to remember that. He said very strongly yesterday that he’s innocent,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

“We certainly wish him well. It’s obviously a tough time for him, and he did a very good job in the White House. We hope he has a wonderful career ahead of him.

“And we hope he has a wonderful career and he will have a great career ahead of him. But it was very sad when we heard about it and certainly he’s also very sad now.”

The President did not refer to the two women who have this week provided graphic accounts of the verbal and physical abuse they said they suffered while married to Porter, reports Reuters.

One of the women, Colbie Holderness, has alleged Porter punched her in the face while holidaying in Italy.

"As you probably know, he says he is innocent and I think you have to remember that." — Trump pic.twitter.com/Q80OEr91WI
What's "sad" is having a complete moral vacuum in the Oval Office. Domestic violence is evil, and there aren't "both sides" on this issue. Real leaders stand with survivors, not perpetrators.

February 9, 2018
Hey @realDonaldTrump, super-courageous statements about Porter today. You're right -- he's going through a hard time and he needs our all our support. https://t.co/58Nw396SHe

February 9, 2018
The mix of messages coming out of the WH on Porter: Kelly ordering WH staff to say he took "immediate action"; POTUS touting Porter's claims of innocence; Shah saying WH against violence... Points to 2 conclusions: -they don't give a damn about predators -they lie compulsively

February 9, 2018
Trump said he found out about the allegations recently, and was “surprised” by them.

White House spokesman Raj Shah said on Thursday the White House was not fully aware of the extent of the allegations against Porter until photographs of one of his ex-wives with a black eye emerged on Wednesday.

Shah also said the crisis could have better handled by senior White House officials. “A lot of us could have done better.”

Porter is a Harvard Law School graduate whose position as White House staff secretary required a security clearance and close contact with Trump.

At the time of his resignation, Porter had not yet been approved for security clearance because the required background check was still ongoing.
Source: huffingtonpost